A revision of the genus Trichohoplorana Breuning, 1961 (Arthropoda, Insecta, Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Lamiinae, Acanthocinini).

A taxonomic revision of the genus Trichohoplorana Breuning, 1961 is presented. A junior synonym of Trichohoplorana, Ipochiromima Sama & Sudre, 2009, syn. nov., is proposed. A junior synonym of T.dureli Breuning, 1961, I.sikkimensis (Breuning, 1982), syn. nov., is proposed. Trichohoplorana is newly recorded from Vietnam. A new species, T.nigeralbasp. nov. is described from Vietnam. Trichohoploranaluteomaculata Gouverneur, 2016 is newly recorded from China and Vietnam. Hind wings and male terminalia of T.luteomaculata are described for the first time. Trichohoplorana is redescribed, and a key to Trichohoplorana species is presented.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Toxascaris leonina: Comparison with other closely related species and phylogenetic implications.

Adults of Toxascaris leonina (Nematoda: Ascarididae) live in the gastrointestinal tract of both dogs and cats, and cause significant economic losses and potential public health problem worldwide. Although many studies have given insights into this significant pathogen, to date, the complete mitochondrial (mt) genome sequence is still not available for T. leonina. Here, we sequenced the complete mt genome of T. leonina. This AT-rich (71.53%) mt genome (14,310bp) is circular and consists of 36 genes, including 12 genes for proteins, 2 genes for rRNA and 22 genes for tRNA. All mt genes of T. leonina are transcribed in the same direction. The gene order is the same as those of Ascaris spp. (Ascarididae), Toxocara spp. (Toxocaridae), Anisakis simplex and Contracaecum rudolphii B (Anisakidae), but distinct from that of Ascaridia spp. (Ascaridiidae). Phylogenetic analyses using concatenated amino acid sequences of 12 protein-coding genes by Bayesian inference (BI) showed distinct groups with high statistical support, and our data confirm that T. leonina is a member of the Ascarididae, and that this family is more closely related to the Toxocaridae rather than the Anisakidae within the Ascaridoidea. The determination of mt genome sequences of T. leonina provides novel genetic markers for studies into the systematics, population genetics and epidemiology of this parasite.

Characterization of the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Spirometra erinaceieuropaei (Cestoda: Diphyllobothriidae) from China.

Sparganosis, caused by the plerocercoid larvae of members of the genus Spirometra, can cause significant public health problem and considerable economic losses. In the present study, the complete mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence of Spirometra erinaceieuropaei from China was determined, characterized and compared with that of S. erinaceieuropaei from Japan. The gene arrangement in the mt genome sequences of S. erinaceieuropaei from China and Japan is identical. The identity of the mt genomes was 99.1% between S. erinaceieuropaei from China and Japan, and the complete mtDNA sequence of S. erinaceieuropaei from China is slightly shorter (2 bp) than that from Japan. Phylogenetic analysis of S. erinaceieuropaei with other representative cestodes using two different computational algorithms [Bayesian inference (BI) and maximum likelihood (ML)] based on concatenated amino acid sequences of 12 protein-coding genes, revealed that S. erinaceieuropaei is closely related to Diphyllobothrium spp., supporting classification based on morphological features. The present study determined the complete mtDNA sequences of S. erinaceieuropaei from China that provides novel genetic markers for studying the population genetics and molecular epidemiology of S. erinaceieuropaei in humans and animals.

Embryonic development of the concave-eared torrent frog with its significance on taxonomy.

We investigated the early embryonic and larval development of the concave-eared torrent frogs, Odorrana tormota (Amphibia, Anura, Ranidae). Embryos were derived from artificial fertilization of frogs' eggs, and the staging of development was based on morphological and physiological characteristics. Two major periods of development were designated: i) early embryonic period, from fertilization to operculum completion stage, lasted for 324 h at water temperature (WT) 18 - 23degree; ii) larval period, from operculum completion stage to tail absorbed stage, took 1207 h at WT 20 - 24degree. Tadpoles of the concave-eared torrent frogs showed no evidence of abdominal sucker. Absence of this key characteristic supports the view from molecular systematics that concave-eared torrent frog does not belong to the genus Amolops. Two cleavage patterns were observed in embryos at 8-cell and 16-cell stages, with Pattern I - 2 (latitudinal cleavage at the 8-cell stage, and meridional cleavage at the 16-cell stage with two perpendicular meridional furrows) being the predominant pattern and only 1.5% belonging to Pattern II (meridional cleavage at the 8-cell stage and latitudinal cleavage at the 16-cell stage). The factors affecting cleavage and hatching ratios, developmental speed, and ecological adaptation were discussed.